O leg B enesch and R an Z wigenberg . Japan’s Castles

As centuries of samurai rule came to an abrupt end with the Meiji Restoration, castles endured as one of the most visible legacies of Japan’s now-defunct feudal order. In the century and a half since, these imposing sites have served numerous ever-shifting roles. They have been neglected and torn down but also preserved through ambitious reconstruction programs. They have housed troops and shrines to the nation’s war dead but have also served as city parks and sites for everyday leisure activities. They have hosted exhibitions, universities, museums, and administrative buildings, and they have been promoted as tourist destinations and emblems of regional identity. In Japan’s Castles: Citadels of Modernity in War and Peace, Oleg Benesch and Ran Zwigenberg trace the modern history of Japan’s castles. As their original functions were rendered obsolete, castles were ascribed new meanings that are seen in each era to reflect broader concerns and developments...

Ancient history · Archaeology · Art history · Economic history · Economy · Exhibition · Feudalism · Modernity · Political science · Tourism · World War II · Chinese history and philosophy · History · Japanese History and Culture · Law · Vietnamese History and Culture Studies